Bony Ray-Finned Fish Flip Chart

Bony Ray-Finned Fish

Life Science - Middle School

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Bony Ray-Finned Fish Bony fish have historically been in the Class Osteichthyes, which is now considered a Superclass. We’ll focus here on the Class Actinopterygii (the ray-finned fish) which has more than 40 groups or Orders and is considered the largest group of vertebrates on Earth. Though diverse, the ray-finned fish still share some important traits. 1) They are cold-blooded. 2) They breathe through gills. 3) They are covered with tough, protective scales. 4) They have pairs of fins for swimming. 5) Many are flattened from side to side and have an organ called a swimbladder that helps keep them afloat. Below you can find fish from some of the common groups (Orders) of ray-finned fishes and see their common physical structure. The Order Perciformes includes almost half the species of bony ray-finned fish. They live in both fresh and saltwater habitats and include bass (1), perch (2), angelfish (3), snappers (4), bay blenny (5), clown fish (6) and many of the common fish you can name. Another big Order is Salmoniformes with graylings (7), salmon (8) and trout (9). Each of the following fish represent other Orders in the Class Actinopterygii: catfish (10), gar (11), northern pike (12), carp (13), moray eel (14), puffer fish (15), tarpon (16) and even seahorses (17). freshwater and cold ocean fish spiny ray pelvic fin anal fin dorsal fin caudal fin pectoral fin 1 3 6 5 8 7 2 12 11 10 9 4 13 15 17 14 16 operculum covering gills lateral line

94-4030 Bony fish share some important traits. 1) They are ____________________________________. 2) They breathe through _____________. 3) They are covered with tough, protective _____________________________. 4) They have pairs of ________________ for swimming. 5) Many are flattened from side to side and have an organ called a ___________________ bladder that helps keep them afloat. The Order Perciformes includes almost half the species of bony ray-finned fish. They live in both fresh and saltwater habitats and include ______________ (1), ___________________ (2), _________________________ (3), snappers (4), bay blenny (5), ________________ fish (6) and many of the common fish you can name. Another big Order is Salmoniformes with graylings (7), __________________ (8) and ____________________ (9). Each of the following fish represent other Orders in the Class Actinopterygii: ________________________ (10), _____________ (11), northern _____________ (12), _____________ (13), _____________________ ____________ (14), _____________________ fish (15), ______________________ (16) and even _______________________________ (17). freshwater and cold ocean fish spiny ray dorsal fin caudal fin anal fin pelvic fin operculum covering gills pectoral fin lateral line 1 3 5 8 6 7 2 12 11 10 9 4 13 14 15 16 17 Bony Ray-Finned Fish